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Friday Bonus Music Break

We should start numbering these bonus music breaks. First up, above, from Kenya: the Large Gang, who claim to be “a lifestyle,” or at least more than a music group. Also from Nairobi (H/T “urban soul” blog GetMziki), the Grandpa Records family (basically a group of artists that are signed to the label) doesn’t take itself too seriously. Refreshing:

Coupé-décalé from Côte d’Ivoire in front of a green screen with beats by DJ Arafat (check the hilarious virtual guitar halfway into the video):

You’re familiar with Mensa by now, so you know what to expect. File under Good Music (seriously) / Humor / No Further Comment:

According to South African rapper Jack Parow, Afrikaans (the language) is Dead.

But that’s of course not quite what he means, if you listen closely to the lyrics. Another Afrikaans rapper, also from Cape Town, is HemelBesem. Not sure what’s up with the Tennessee reference at the start here:

Switching gears: South London rapper Corynne Elliott aka Speech Debelle’s living for the message:

I’ve been listening to Salif Keita’s excellent new record this week. It’s produced by Philippe Cohen Solal (from Argentinian Gotan Project). Here they talk a bit about the recording (also introducing Esperanza Spalding) — the recurring song in the background is stand-out track ‘C’est Bon, C’est Bon’, a collaboration with Roots Manuva:

And finally, Seu Jorge has uploaded to his YouTube channel the complete concert he gave a year ago at the Quinta Da Boa Vista park in Rio de Janeiro at the occasion of the Dia da Consciência Negra. It was a star-studded affair (what a band!). Here’s Seu Jorge jamming with Caetano Veloso: